Weʼve raised £2,155 to help get Quinta do Vale back on its feet!

Crowdfunding is a new type of fundraising where you can raise funds for your own personal cause, even if you're not a registered nonprofit.

The page owner is responsible for the distribution of funds raised.

Story

We have set up this page because we know our mum has spent almost every penny she has getting her beautiful Quinta to where it was.

She was ready to begin teaching all things self sufficient on it next year, thus bringing in an income after spending the last 7 years getting it to this point.

She has put her everything into her land, along with the help of many skilled friends to get it to where is it now.

To see her lose so much although amazingly not everything is devastating for us. If we had the money or resources we would fix everything for her in a heartbeat.

Here is mums account - "Two nights ago with the wind from the hurricane, the fires started up again. They came from two directions at the rim of the valleys and completely enclosed us. No way out. So we stayed. As the two fronts came to converge in Benfeita, we barricaded the children in the church while anyone who was able fought the fires in the streets. Several houses in the village burned. The whole of Central Portugal was burning. The bombeiros were stretched impossibly thin, so we fought the fire ourselves alongside the local people. Our two presidentes, incoming and outgoing, were unbelievable - constantly at the front line, back burning where they could, never stopping. We have no power, no phones, no internet, except at the very tops.

Some of us have lost everything. Some of us have lost some, but not all. Nobody is unaffected. The fires consumed everything.

At the quinta, I was able to water some areas down before we evacuated and set sprinklers on the yurt. Our exit was blocked by fire so I had to leave the car behind and we left on foot carrying the cats in baskets. The chickens and geese had to fend for themselves. At some hour of the night I sat in the village and watched the wee house burn. It and the geodome greenhouse are gone. The main building and the yurt survived unscathed. The cob bathroom is part burned where the woodstore next to it went up. Amazingly, the geese and chickens are OK and unbelievably the car survived with only slight melting of the rear lights and registration plate. Water lines are burned and electrical wiring melted but the solar equipment survived although some of the panels are toast. The entire landscape is black and smoking. Even after last night's rain, trees roots are still smouldering and the air is still smoky.

Last night we got together in the house of friends who's house and power system survived to charge phones and talk. One long-time resident, the first foreigners here, looked up from contemplating the total loss of everything he has, punched the air with his fist and said "We go on!" For me, that was the defining moment. We go on."

Updates

13

2 years ago

Emma Mcdonald

2 years ago

Here's a link to mums blog if you'd like to read more...
http://www.permaculturinginportugal.net/blog/firestorm/

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2 years ago

Emma Mcdonald

2 years ago

Thanks to you, I’ll be getting the worms into a new home so they can start showing just how good they are at dealing with sewage again.
Thanks to you, we will soon be able to start collecting rainwater again, which is likely to be crucial this winter. In so many ways, you’ve helped us and made dealing with the aftermath of the fires so much easier. Please don’t ever underestimate how valuable that’s been and how much you’re appreciated! I’d like to extend a warm welcome to everyone who’s donated to come and visit us if you’re ever in Portugal.

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2 years ago

Emma Mcdonald

2 years ago

Thanks to you, I’ve been able to repair most of the water lines so we now have a water supply back on the quinta again. Not just for ourselves - though the ability to have a hot shower after a day clearing blackened rubble is beyond wonderful - but to water the garden which is now planted up with vegetables for the winter.
Thanks to you, I’ve been able to repair the trailer so we can ferry burnt debris to the dump and start to get the site safe and clear.

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2 years ago

Emma Mcdonald started crowdfunding

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Page last updated on: 11/20/2017 15.38

Supporters

79

Penny clark

Nov 20, 2017

£5.00

Rebecca Knorr

Nov 19, 2017

£30.00

Gill Wilson

Nov 19, 2017

Well done Em on reaching your target. Your Mum has a wonderful daughter. Lots of love to you Wendy. Xxx

£30.00

carola

Nov 19, 2017

many many new shoots to you, dear wendy

Lynne Popley

Nov 19, 2017

£10.00

Keri Millard

Nov 19, 2017

£10.00

Nat Topa

Nov 12, 2017

Wish I could do more! My very best wishes to Wendy and the team on the whole process of healing and building back stronger and more resilient. Lots of love from Kenya!